Bus brace apparatus, bus assemblies, and methods of bracing bus bars

Abstract

A bus brace apparatus for bracing electrical bus bars. The bus brace apparatus includes a bracing block with a plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses configured to receive bus bars therein and a plurality of legs defining sides of the bus-receiving recesses, wherein the legs including first apertures formed there through. Insulating positioners are received in each of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses and each of the insulating positioners include a second aperture formed therein. A fastener extends through each of the first and second apertures and aligns each of the insulating positioners within the bus bar-receiving recesses. A channel member is coupled to the bracing block and includes one or more sides configured to interface with a surface of the insulating positioners and limit rotation thereof in the bus bar-receiving recesses. Bus bar assemblies and methods of bracing bus bars are disclosed, as are other aspects.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bus brace apparatus, comprising:
 a bracing block having a plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses configured to receive bus bars therein and a plurality of legs defining sides of the plurality of bus-receiving recesses, the legs including first apertures formed there through; 
 an insulating positioner received in each of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses, each of the insulating positioners including a second aperture formed therein; 
 a fastener extending through each of the first apertures and each of the second apertures and aligning each of the insulating positioners within respective ones of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses; and 
 a channel member coupled to the bracing block and including first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side each configured to interface with a surface of each of the insulating positioners and limit rotation of the insulating positioners about the fastener. 
 
     
     
       2. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel member comprises a U-shaped cross-section along a length thereof. 
     
     
       3. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side of the channel member overlap the surface of each of the insulating positioners by at least 10 mm. 
     
     
       4. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel member comprises a connecting side interconnecting between the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side, and wherein the connecting side comprises one or more tab receivers formed therein. 
     
     
       5. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more tab receivers receive one or more locking tabs therein. 
     
     
       6. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more tab receivers comprise two tab receivers. 
     
     
       7. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the two tab receivers are configured to receive a locking tab therein. 
     
     
       8. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more tab receivers comprise a rectangular hole. 
     
     
       9. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel member comprises a connecting side interconnecting between the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side, and wherein the connecting side comprises a first tab receiver on a first end and a second tab receiver on a second end. 
     
     
       10. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel member comprises a connecting side interconnecting between the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side, and wherein the connecting side comprises a first tab receiver on a first end and a second tab receiver on a second end, and wherein the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side are co-planar. 
     
     
       11. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , comprising one or more lock brackets coupled to the bracing block and to the channel member. 
     
     
       12. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lock brackets comprise a body portion having an aperture formed therein configured to receive the fastener through the aperture and the bracing block and extending tabs spaced on either side of the bracing block. 
     
     
       13. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein a lock bracket of the one or more lock brackets comprises a body portion having an aperture formed therein on a first end, a locking tab on a second end, and extending tabs spaced on either side of the body portion in between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
       14. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the one or more lock brackets comprises a body portion, extending tabs, and a locking tab including a retaining portion, the extending tabs and the retaining portion projecting at an approximately 90 degree angle from a plane of the body portion. 
     
     
       15. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lock brackets comprises two lock brackets and each of the two lock brackets comprises a body portion, extending tabs, and a locking tab including a retaining portion, wherein the retaining portion of each of the two lock brackets project towards one another. 
     
     
       16. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lock brackets comprise a first lock bracket coupled to a first end of the bracing block and a second lock bracket coupled to a second end of the bracing block. 
     
     
       17. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more lock brackets comprise a first lock bracket coupled to a first end of the bracing block and a second lock bracket coupled to a second end of the bracing block and by the fastener securing the first lock bracket and the second lock bracket to the bracing block. 
     
     
       18. The bus brace apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the channel member comprises a radiused corner between a connecting side and the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side. 
     
     
       19. A bus assembly, comprising:
 a bus comprising a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a third bus bar; 
 a first bus support configured to support each of the first, second, and third bus bars at a first end; 
 second bus supports configured to support each of the first, second, and third bus bars at a second end; and 
 a bus brace apparatus, comprising:
 a bracing block having a plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses configured to receive bus bars therein and a plurality of legs defining sides of the plurality of bus-receiving recesses, the legs including first apertures formed there through, 
 an insulating positioner received in each of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses, each of the insulating positioners including a second aperture formed therein, 
 a fastener extending through each of the first apertures and each of the second apertures and aligning each of the insulating positioners within respective ones of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses, and 
 a channel member coupled to the bracing block and including first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side each configured to interface with a surface of each of the insulating positioners and limit rotation of the insulating positioners about the fastener. 
 
 
     
     
       20. A method of bracing bus bars, comprising:
 providing a first bus bar, a second bus bar, and a third bus bar; 
 providing a bus brace apparatus comprising a bracing block having a plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses, a plurality of legs defining sides of the plurality of bus-receiving recesses, the legs including first apertures formed there through; an insulating positioner received in each of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses, each of the insulating positioners including a second aperture formed therein and side surfaces; a fastener extending through each of the first apertures and each of the second apertures and aligning each of the insulating positioners within respective ones of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses; and a channel member coupled to the bracing block and including first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side; 
 receiving the first bus bar, the second bus bar, and the third bus bar in respective ones of the plurality of bus bar-receiving recesses; and 
 interfacing the side surfaces of each of the insulating positioners with the first longitudinal side and the second longitudinal side of the channel member to limit rotation of the insulating positioners about the fastener.